Barbara A. Gill

Barbara OConnell Gill, 82, of South Portland, died Monday, November 24, 2014 at South Portland Nursing Home. Barbara was born April 11, 1932 in Portland, Maine to the late Edith (Dyro) OConnell and John Anthony OConnell of Clark Street. She graduated from Cathedral High School in 1948 and attended Pratt Diagnostic School in Boston. Barbara returned to Maine and worked for Dr. Henry Tabachnik. Barbara met John Edward Ted Gill from Portland and Cape Elizabeth at Gills Pharmacy on Danforth Street in Portland. They were married June 9, 1951 at St. Louis Catholic Church in Portland. They moved to South Portland where they made their home in Thornton Heights. In addition to starting their family they purchased Taylors Drug Store in South Portland and later grew their family business into what became Gills Pharmacy. Ted Gill was active in local politics and community activities while Barbara assisted Ted in the operations at the store. In addition, she took care of their young family while being involved in school events, church and the family business. Barbara and Ted were communicants of St. John the Evangelist Church where they were active in many church activities. In 1972 following busy times in their lives, Ted Gill died unexpectedly on July 23, 1972 at the age of 44 years old. Barbara was devastated but knew she must provide for the family. She participated in school activities while her children were in local schools and was elected to the South Portland School Board, serving from 1972 to 1975 and was proud to award her daughter, Karens diploma as part of her role. Barbara now understood the love of politics that called Ted to the State House and had become such a big part of their family. Every political campaign fully involved the family. In 1974 Barbara ran and was elected to the State of Maine House of Representatives representing South Portland, serving one term. In 1976, she was elected to the Maine State Senate representing South Portland and Cape Elizabeth and was re-elected serving seven terms. Barbara retired in 1992 from the Maine Senate. During these years, she served on the Joint Standing Committees for Health Institutional Services Committee, Education, Corrections and State and Local Government. Barbara enjoyed working with constituents in resolving issues. Barbara was employed at Osteopathic Hospital of Maine, Brighton Medical Center and Community Health Services retiring in 2002. Barbara was very proud of her Polish and Irish heritage. Barbara is survived by her daughters, Jo Gill Richards and her husband Anthony of South Portland, and Karen Gill of Grand Haven, MI; sons, John E. Gill and his wife, Michelle of Cape Elizabeth, and Stephen A. Gill and his partner Christine Powell of Windham; her brother, Jock OConnell of Sacramento, CA; grandchildren, Kate Seaver of Grand Rapids, MI and Brent Seaver (Carley) of Grand Rapids, MI, Rhiannon Gill Guzelian (Shara) of Mexico Beach, FL, Patrick Gill (Aimee Poulin) of Portland, Ted Gill of Portland, Peter Gill of Yarmouth, Ian Powell of Windham and Nicholas Richards of Standish; nephew, Robert Gill of Portland and niece, Althea Gill Lane of PA; and her Pillsbury, Dyro and OConnell family cousins. The family is grateful to South Portland Nursing Home and all of the special staff who have cared for Barbara since 2008. You are angels forthe work you do. Additionally, our special thanks to Hospice of Southern Maine. Visiting hours will be held from 4-7PM on Tuesday, December 2nd, at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. A 10AM Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Wednesday, December 3rd, at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, 156 Black Point Road, Scarborough. Private Interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery at later date. For online guestbook, please visit www.ctcrawford.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the South Portland Nursing Home to be used for ongoing staff development for continued excellent Alzheimers and dementia care, 42 Anthoine St., South Portland, Maine 04106 or the Maine Chapter of the Alzheimers Association, 383 U.S. Route 1, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074.